TRACKS FROM LAXOM: NEW ELECTRONIC MUSIC ALIAS IN 2024
DEBUT SINGLE - DIL
Winner - UK Songwriting Competition
Top 4 songs on Gaana (India's largest streaming platform) for a week.
Honorable mention - International Songwriting Competition
10 million streams - Gaana streaming platform
500k views - YouTube
Featuring - Jackie Foster, Finalist, The Voice USA Finalist
TALK ABOUT THE DAY
Semi-Finalist - UK Songwriting Competition
500k streams - Gaana streaming platform
100k views - YouTube
hope for syria
This song encapsulates a deeply personal and impactful project – a music video created during the tumultuous period of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) movement in my home state Assam in India. As an artist profoundly affected by the issues surrounding identity and indigenous culture, I wrote and performed a poignant song in my mother tongue, Assamese. Given the gravity of the subject matter, please switch on the subtitles with English translations which are provided to enhance your understanding of the powerful lyrics. I composed and produced this song while rendering vocals in my mother tongue Assamese. Having emerged from a region in turmoil, I felt a responsibility to bring attention to the challenges faced by my people. The song delves into the threats perceived by the Assamese identity due to the implications of the CAA. Collaborating with artists from various corners of the globe, the music video reflects a truly international effort. The violinist hails from Jordan, an Israeli Qanun player introduces Middle Eastern instruments, the percussionist represents Palestine, the bassist comes from Serbia, the drummer from the Dominican Republic, and an assistant recording engineer from Belgium. The rest of us were either from India or the US. The video was shot in New Delhi, India, with a significant portion executed remotely, especially sessions requiring recordings from outside the US. This project holds personal significance as it compelled me, primarily a vocalist with a soft vocal texture, to navigate the challenge of delivering a song with intense, metal-like vocals. Beyond the artistic endeavor, the song's emotional depth is amplified as the lyrics were penned by my mother, someone deeply affected by the unfolding events in Assam. The video serves as a testament to my commitment to uplifting and providing opportunities for my people, aiming to pave the way for similar growth and opportunities that I have been fortunate to experience.
CAA NELAGEY AAMAK
This world music track marks a powerful and ambitious endeavor, born out of a deep-seated conviction to shed light on the dire condition of women and children in Syria and advocate for a more compassionate global perspective. Motivated by a poignant encounter with a fellow Berklee student from Syria, who courageously shared the challenges of separation from her family, I gathered a diverse ensemble of over 35 musicians from around the world to craft a song amplifying the collective support for Syria. I deeply contemplate the distressing reality that a few perpetrators instigating violence often result in the suffering of common people, particularly disturbing in light of leaders from others nations openly bombarding missiles onto civilian populations— a sentiment also tragically resonant in the current situation in Palestine. I truly believe art has the power to transform lives and this project stands as a testament to my commitment to using music as a catalyst for global awareness and compassion. Each vocal line in the verses and pre-choruses is sung a different language, featuring singers from various countries and cultures, symbolizing the unity of the global community with Syria. The project, both audacious and heartfelt, required orchestration on multiple fronts—I took on the roles of a traditional music producer, co-arranger and conductor for a comprehensive ensemble encompassing a full string section, a choir, and a band. Beyond producing the song, I co-authored its English lyrics, found other artists for translations into multiple languages, and meticulously crafted the arrangement along with two other arrangers. While the song awaits its public release, discussions are underway with mentors at the Berklee Indian Ensemble to feature it in their upcoming album. I firmly believe that, with further experience and refinement, this song has the potential to become even more impactful. Some creations, I believe, are worth the wait until they reach their utmost potential, and this song stands as a testament to my commitment to using music as a catalyst for global awareness and compassion. Here's a list of the members of the ensemble who helped me bring my idea to life - Italian vocalist - Carolina Magini, Italy Turkish vocalist - Mahir Kucuk, Turkey Mandarin vocalist - Enya Lim, Singapore Spanish vocalist - Alex Venegas, Dallas, USA Tamil vocalist - Rohith Jayaraman, San Francisco, USA Swiss vocalist - Laara Julia, Switzerland Assamese vocalist - Geett Barua, Los Angeles, USA Swahili vocalist - Njoki Karu, Kenya Hindi vocalist - Srishti Biyani, Mumbai, India Hindi vocalist - Swara Swami, Mumbai, India Hindi vocalist - Agney Mulay,New Delhi, India Hindi vocalist - Sanjana Raja, Chennai, India Hindi vocalist - Amira Gill, New Delhi, India Choir Director/Soprano - Caitlyn Thorton, Los Angeles, USA Choir Soprano - Laara Julia, Switzerland Choir Soprano - Madison Denbrock, Arizona, USA Choir Alto - Rozie Baker, New York, USA Choir Alto - Josie Long, Georgia, USA Choir Alto - Michael Mastroianni, New York, USA Choir Tenor -Alex Venegas, Dallas, USA Choir Bass - Evan Lee, New Orleans, USA Choir Arranger - Joey Epstein, Illinois, USA Strings Arranger - Jorge Alonso Maldonado, Peru Strings Arranger - Salil Bhayani, Los Angeles, USA Piano - Abram AL, Indonesia Electric Guitar - Aleif Hamdan, Indonesia Percussion - Alber Baseel, Palestine Bass - Achal Murthy, Luxemborg Drums - Ivanna Cuesta Gonzalez, Dominican Republic Co-wrote English Lyrics with - Omar Ahmed Khulazi, Bahrain Hindi Lyrics - Deepshikha Batheja, Riverside, USA Mix/Mast./Recording Engineer - Arian Mohammadi, Iran Recording Engineer (Grammy winner) - Garry Purohit, Los Angeles, USA Asst. Record Engineer - Anton Rasmussen, Nashville, USA Asst. Record Engineer - Rongjie Qian, China
kio janu
unreleased songs
mashups
GUITAR SOLO COVER - LAYLA (ERIC CLAPTON)
HEARTBEAT
This piece provides a captivating glimpse into my early years before formal education in music, revealing the roots of my artistic journey. In this project, I present a poignant documentary style video that serves as a window into the lives of young girls in rural India, shedding light on the issue of child marriages. Through the use of ethnic instruments from India, each chosen for its unique timbre, the piece unfolds various phases of these girls' lives. I've also included a LIVE recording of the piece where I'm playing the various instruments showcased in the documentary. Despite the video's quality differing from my current professional standards, I choose to share it deliberately. It embodies the innocence with which I approached music and reflects my unwavering vision to make a profound societal impact through my art. The narrative begins with the sweet tones of the Bengali instrument Dutara, symbolizing the carefree innocence of early childhood. As the music progresses, different instruments come into play, each representing distinct life phases through their timbral characteristics. Notably, the inclusion of the harsh-sounding instruments like Pepa, accentuates moments of sadness in the girls' journeys. This project is more than a musical composition; it serves as a testament to my early exploration of music production, mixing, and mastering. Before my formal education, music was my playground—an arena for experimenting with various genres, instruments, and production techniques. Furthermore, I took on the roles of editing and creating slides for this video, showcasing my multifaceted involvement in the creative process. This video, though a nostalgic reminder of my beginnings, keeps me grounded amidst both challenging times and significant successes. It stands as a reminder of the genuine passion and vision that have fueled my artistic journey.